Expats ripped off, kicked out...

[Mike]

This is how Bermuda works, folks:

Illegal employment contracts, illegal deductions from pay, illegal termination... and when you apply to reside and look for other work - denied, go home.



Three of these guys got the 3 week departure notification, one (who has a Bermudian child) gets 8 weeks to find a job or depart.

[Wikigrl]

One of these guys also got swindled for $15K by an 'immigration lawyer' on the island (case is now going through BDA court)

Welcome to Bermuda - feel the love!

I feel really bad for these guys! AND Bermudians are always quick to say that Jamaicans are bad...hmmmm - it's no wonder I've heard the term "Jamaica-lite" tossed around when referring to BDA...

[Paget]

So much "racism" against Jamaicans in Bermuda. Sad but true.

[Wikigrl]

So much racism period.

They hate everybody that isn't Bermudian, and then they each hate their own little groups (white, high yellow, dark, brown, St. David's Islanders, people from down de country etc etc etc etc etc)

but they really do 'favour' their hatred towards Jamaicans don't they?

[BangMaster]

In these days of "normal european city living" we are realizing how dangerous can be to live in Bermuda for too long and start to act "Bermudians". Something that won't work anywhere outside Bermuda.
In these days I am France and we were walking in a shopping street and I said to my wife: "Can you imagine now a Bermudian on a scooter with the shower cup or the sleepy pants?" and we started to laugh so much ... I mean even the homeless don't wear shower cup or sleepy pants down here.

[Wikigrl]

hee hee! I love your English Bang Master! 

I often thought Bermudians over-dressed for the most part, but I have seen my fair share of shower caps and pajama pants...although my family lives in a 'city' where that is the norm (OMG! Pjama pants, slippers or uggs, and a long coat in the winter...sweater in the summer - to go grocery shopping! Wearing jeans up there is 'dressing up' - pathetic!) so I don't bat an eye to that stuff in everyday life here - but if I am in a higher end restaurant or club downtown Toronto and someone walks in underdressed I will notice for sure!

Ah Europe...wish some things were more like that here!

[Pandora]

Oh no Wikigrl... "Bermudians over-dressed?" Well some did appear to try more than others with usually horrendous stuffy and tasteless results.

Fashion - now you are talking my language! LOL

This video is hysterical

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnfEJlf0GrQ

"Preppy resort chic?" I vomit (a little in my mouth) everytime the image of green shorts and flower tops come up 3:16. 

I packed very carefully for Italy. Americans have a very different idea of resort dressing and look out of place. Even English tailoring looks scruffy next to the Italians too boxy and ill fitted. ;-)

My boyfriend would have called my planning a "fashion obsession". In most countries in Europe it is considered disrespectful and rude to underdress. Not to mention slovenly and uncouth. There is plenty of room for individualism and expressionism. More in fact. As the more flamboyant and expressive the better.

You can spot the tourists a mile off and tell where most people come from by how they dress. Socks with sandals - German! Baseball cap - american. Trainers - oik from NA or England. Cheap handbag - NA. Crazy hats, short sleeve tops, dolly dresses with knitted fingerless glove/arm covers equals Japanese or Korean. Smock dresses Scandis. Safari wear and hats - South Africans. Even the Aussies are easy to spot.

Although you can guess the french, Scandis, Russians and eastern Europeans etc. Only the North Americans and some Brits excel themselves as holding the flag for slobbery! Ironically they are the countries that spend the most on clothes and the largest wardrobes?

I always plan a non-tourist wardrobe and tailor it to the local environment. If you do not want to be robbed, targeted and yelled at by hawkers it helps. The upside is that you do get treated better, do not have locals gaping at you and do not get turned away from restaurants. 

It helps that I do not own any fleece, trousers or trainers. All banned. One of the traps tourists fall into is walking around in trainers exploring and then attempting to go into a restaurant. It does not work.

If you can dress right in Italy - you have mastered the art of being properly attired.

[Wikigrl]

Pandora, why weren't we friends on island???

I travel a lot, and I ALWAYS try to fit in...I'm lucky that my looks afford me a certain level of camoflage - I already normally blend in well (well, except in Asia!) but I also try to dress appropriately. I own trainers, but they are for the gym - same for track or yoga pants - gym only (or louning at home!) - I work in an office now that is "business casual" with emphasis on 'casual' and I cannot tell you how embarassed I am that one of coworkers goes to offsite meetings in track pants, a t-shirt, and flip flops! OMG! I would die! It's just imappropriate!

On the flip side of this - there is a lady who is part of the janitorial staff in my building. She is from Europe. And while she is working, she wears the standard uniform, but then she changes to go home in the evening - and you would swear she was being picked up in a Rolls or something - she is always dressed to the nines - just to go home!

Anyhow, I can talk about this subject for days, but, I agree with your post 100%
 

We (North Americans) have become so lazy on all fronts - even just when it comes down to dressing appropriately!

[Ilanit]

Wikigrl, I agree - trainers are for the gym. I own a pair and they are strictly for the treadmill.

Pandora, I have shopped at Cecile's, also Calypso.  I have to admit - I own that floral bathing suit and sarong outfit.  And I've walked Front Street in a lot of floral print sleeveless sheath dresses and matching sandals.......

Good grief, how did we stray so far off topic? 

[Argentine]

Pandora, why weren't we friends on island???

I travel a lot, and I ALWAYS try to fit in...I'm lucky that my looks afford me a certain level of camoflage - I already normally blend in well (well, except in Asia!) but I also try to dress appropriately. I own trainers, but they are for the gym - same for track or yoga pants - gym only (or louning at home!) - I work in an office now that is "business casual" with emphasis on 'casual' and I cannot tell you how embarassed I am that one of coworkers goes to offsite meetings in track pants, a t-shirt, and flip flops! OMG! I would die! It's just imappropriate!

On the flip side of this - there is a lady who is part of the janitorial staff in my building. She is from Europe. And while she is working, she wears the standard uniform, but then she changes to go home in the evening - and you would swear she was being picked up in a Rolls or something - she is always dressed to the nines - just to go home!

Anyhow, I can talk about this subject for days, but, I agree with your post 100%
 

We (North Americans) have become so lazy on all fronts - even just when it comes down to dressing appropriately!

[Argentine]

Pandora, why weren't we friends on island???

I travel a lot, and I ALWAYS try to fit in...I'm lucky that my looks afford me a certain level of camoflage - I already normally blend in well (well, except in Asia!) but I also try to dress appropriately. I own trainers, but they are for the gym - same for track or yoga pants - gym only (or louning at home!) - I work in an office now that is "business casual" with emphasis on 'casual' and I cannot tell you how embarassed I am that one of coworkers goes to offsite meetings in track pants, a t-shirt, and flip flops! OMG! I would die! It's just imappropriate!

On the flip side of this - there is a lady who is part of the janitorial staff in my building. She is from Europe. And while she is working, she wears the standard uniform, but then she changes to go home in the evening - and you would swear she was being picked up in a Rolls or something - she is always dressed to the nines - just to go home!

Anyhow, I can talk about this subject for days, but, I agree with your post 100%
 

We (North Americans) have become so lazy on all fronts - even just when it comes down to dressing appropriately!

[Wikigrl]

Hahahaha! It's an art to stray this far off topic! It really really is!

One more comment from me on the 'fitting in' bit: I just donated all my "Bermuda" clothes to charity recently, and I was a little sad because some of those outfits were SO CRAZY for me and so out of character....but I got them to 'fit in'....and they do NOT work over here in the big smoke!

I also cannot picture myself walking around the beaches in Northern Ontario with my " Bermuda Beach/Boat Wear" Sarongs, floppy hat...matchy matchy...but I haven't had the heart to ditch those items yet because I *may* return to the island for a visit at some point in my future....

[Pandora]

And since we are off topic....

Wikigrl as you said your goal was to "fit in".

It is worth noting that dressing in Bermuda is a lot different... than dressing appropriately for the situation. It is something that no one warms you about. There is a look and as the video said "preppy resort chic".  It is not fashion as we know it!

Lets break it down:

Preppy: As the name implies this has to do with IVY league prep schools. Uniform dressing! It is a very up state, east coast american ivy league preppyness that has changed very little in 50 years. In England we would call it very "twee". Peterpan collars, sweet heart necklines, shorts and trousers with cuffs, brass buttons and anchor motifs are among the staple diet. The same docker style shoes are still in fashion. Buttons with anchors on them are good. If you feel like a fraud because you do not actually own a yacht and no one calls you Skipper tough.

This is identikit dressing. It is not self expression, making a statement and about what looks good on you. No matter what your body type people will treat you better if you wear a fitted knee length shift dress with a stripey or floral cardigan. Anywhere else and this look is for pencil thin amazonian women with square shoulders who have actually attended prep school! It is a very unforgiving shape for anyone with hips or breasts.

In Bermuda if you go to a party and there are 5 women all wearing the same dress as you you do not need to slink out the back door to run home and change. Think of it as the pan ultimate sign of a passport to social acceptance. At least 5 people will say they like your dress.

Resort: Resorts are not the real world. They are very specific places. Places like Hawaii, Australia, Jamaica, Greece etc. are not resorts. Yes they have gorgeous beaches, weather, boats, drinks with paper umbrellas in them etc. But the word resort implies a different meaning than vacation. It is the accordance of a "place of refuge".

Middle English, return, source of aid, from Anglo-French, from resortir to rebound, resort, from re- + Old French sortir to go out, leave

It is often used to describe an exclusive enclave in a vacation spot such as Cannes, Capri, Necker etc.  Each of these has their own unique "resort look". Resort dressing in this instance is about dressing in a Bermudian-ish way. What works on the French Riviera will not cut it here. Save the chiffon, silks and heavily embellished dresses with chandelier earrings for here! There is a specific colour pallet in Bermuda of Navy with the same colours as the pastel houses as accent colours - lemon, pink, baby blue, soft lime green, lilac, orange sorbet. The fabric is flat plain cotton or gabardine. You will see very little embellishments, sequins or embroideries. With the wacky patterns and colour combinations the accessories are always chunky beads or pearls and cuff bracelets. Red is the only dark colour that can be worn occasionally but preferably with Navy and white.   

Women who wear marroon, purple, violet and black will be branded as witches and sentenced to death by drowning.  I was very close the this fate myself :'(

Chic: This is the part that had me "stumped". I honestly could not find where the chic part was?  This is the number one designer along with J Crew. http://www.lillypulitzer.com 

Thankfully there is a cure. Being a bit arty and of a bohemian disposition I used that as my get out clause. "You do not really expect artists to conform do you? Ahh poor you"

[Wikigrl]

I found I could not wear any black in BDA because it was just too damned hot! LOL! Now that I am back inthe big smoke - black is slowly taking over my wardrobe again - although I have to have my splash of colour....so BDA will definitely have a lasting influence on how I dress....it has a positive impact in that regard!

[Pandora]

Well that is one reason the Bermuda Society for Goths never took off. 

Nothing wrong with a splash of colour. I am all for some colour and a sucker for Odd Molly, Spell Designs and Haute Hippie. Yummy!

There is a special section of hell where people are forced to wear Bermuda fashion such as these fish shorts!